Principle Senior Researcher | Expert in Sociology of Science, Technology, and Medicine

I am a Principal Investigator (PI) and Senior Researcher at the Orient-Institut Istanbul (affiliated with the Max Weber Foundation, Germany), where I lead the research area “Science, Technology, and Society.” My research broadly examines the relationship between digitalization and society, with a current focus on digital transformation in production processes and labor.

As PI of the DFG-funded project “Manufacturing Practices of Medical Instruments in Innovation Clusters,” I explore how local manufacturing knowledge, digital transformation, and global value chains interact in manufacturing medical instruments. My research explores the intersection of craftsmanship, innovation cultures, high-tech production, and digital infrastructures, analyzing how automation and additive manufacturing (3D printing) reshape labor and drive innovation—particularly within medical clusters, where localized innovation cultures play a key role in technological advancement.

Beyond transformation processes in production and labor, my research explores socio-technical networks, human-technology interaction, and the transformation of body concepts in digitalized environments. My earlier work has examined digital transformation processes in medicine, in particular human enhancement technologies, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), and digital health applications, contributing to discussions on agency, subjectivity, and socio-technical imaginaries.

With over 15 years of experience, I have led interdisciplinary research projects, taught at German and international universities, and organized numerous international conferences and workshops. I am also a co-founder and coordinator of STS Türkiye, a network promoting collaboration in Science and Technology Studies (STS).

I have published widely in peer-reviewed journals and presented at numerous international conferences, with a focus on the intersection of medicine, technology, gender, and disability studies. My recent research project, “Additive Manufacturing: Enabling Technologies in Childhood,” examines the development of 3D-printed prostheses for children, exploring the socio-technical dynamics beyond mere technological solutions. This work was recognized with the Wissen der Vielen – Citizen Science Award (3rd Place, 2025) for its innovative participatory approach, engaging children and their families in co-design and collaborative innovation practices.

I specialize in qualitative research methods, particularly in the study of vulnerable populations, including children with disabilities. My doctoral research, funded by the DFG Research Training Group Bioethics at the University of Tübingen, involved in-depth ethnographic studies on brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) in stroke rehabilitation, framing these as socio-bio-technical phenomena.

In addition to my research and teaching roles, I have received several fellowships, including one from Harvard University’s “Science, Technology and Society” program. I have also been awarded numerous research grants to support my projects and advance my work in the field.

For more details or collaboration inquiries, feel free to contact me.